Nellie

(a.k.a.) Nice Dress Nellie

Actual Name: Marvel Lawrence (Stand-in for Don Knotts)

"Nice Dress Nellie" walking in the Taylor's front door.

Biography

Little is known about this charming lady. She has been referred to by fans a "Nice Dress Nellie" because in the episode that Barney arrests the whole town, "Andy Saves Barney's Morale" as she is released from jail with the crowd, Andy acknowledges her and comments "Nice Dress, Nellie." Fans should recognize her face as she appears as a background actress in over 30 episodes from first season, all the way to the last. Trained Noticers believe that her voice is heard in Episode 92, "A Wife for Andy" This picture is from that show as she arrives with the other ladies. As she is leaving the second time, one of the ladies says something like "I wonder what this is about" and she says "I wish I knew" She is always wearing a dress, often has on white earrings. In the color episodes such as "Only a Rose" (when she is a judge) you can see a few streaks of gray in her hair. Watch for her. She's everywhere! Just like Mr. Schwamp and Tom Jacobs.

According to assistant director Bruce Bilson, her name is Marvel, but he did not give her full name. Marvel was a stand in for Don Knotts and Mr. Bilson picked her for the stand in job. TAGS fan Randy Turner confirmed that "Marvel" is her First name, not her last. She was seen over and over throughout The Andy Griffith Show series. This from a clip shot by TAGS fan Tim Bradshaw during Mayberry Days 2015